Keeping plant quality of weeping fig during indoor life in relation to previous growing conditions

Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina L.) is an important indoor ornamental plant and climatic conditions (particularly shading) during production affect its acclimation and behaviour under indoor conditions. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of radiation levels during production on the subsequent response of weeping fig plants in a simulated interior environment. Plants were exposed to 50, 66 and 86% shading during growing and then kept for eight weeks under indoor conditions. Regardless of the growing conditions, plants showed a significant leaf drop under indoor conditions and this was increasingly evident for the plants grown under the lower radiation during the production period. Net photosynthesis was higher in plants grown under lower light availability. In addition a significant reduction of leaf starch content was observed. The results showed that plants produced under lower radiation keep their foliage characteristics and functional activity better when transferred to simulated indoor conditions.